THE
GOBRECHT
JOURNAL
For Collectors
of the
LIBERTY SEATED COIN SERIES
VOLUME TWELVE ISSUE #34
AUTUMN
IN THE
SHENANDOAH
LSCC 159
Specializing in Liberty Seated half dimes and quarter dollars.
Actively soliciting want lists for those hard to find dates and rare
varieties. Modest finder fees. Satisfaction guaranteed; 10-day
return privilege; post paid on all orders over $200.
HALF DIMES
1842 AU-55+ $185 1870 MS-63, proof like $275
1853 W/AAU-55 90 1872-S S above bow, AU-55 110
1854 XF-4Q+ 30 1873-S XF-40+ 45
QUARTER DOLLAR BONANZA
All coins from Private Estate Consignment. Some of these have not been on the
market for 30 to 50 years. All coins original and uncleaned. Recommend phone
orders on these.
1838 XF-45 $180 1854 AU-50 $145
1839 XF-40+ 175 1855-0 XF-45 320
1840-0 N/DVF-30-h 160 1855-S XF-45 320
1840-0 W/D AU-50 275 1856-S XF-45+ 320
1842 Large Date XF-40 330 1858-S XF-40 200
1842-0 Large Date XF-45 250 1860 AU-50 150
1842- 0 Small Date VF-25 850 1861 AU-55 150
1843- 0 AU-50 400 1863 XF-45 250
1844 AU-50+ 240 1864 AU-50 250
1845 XF-40 145 1864-S VF-25... 450
1847-0 XF-40 200 1866-S F-15 420
1848 XF-45 200 1867 XF-40 385
1849-0 F-15 850 1867-S VF-35 350
1850 XF-45 200
1851 XF-45-t- 275 SELECTED RARE DATES
1851-0 XF-45 1700 1870-CC F-15 $2700
1853 N/A XF-40 550 1871-CC F-12 1700
1853 W/A XF-45 135 1872-CC F-12 525
1853/4 W/A XF-45 600 1873-CC VF-25 3700
Continued Next Issue! Call on dates after 1867. Call on multiple coin
purchase discounts.
14904 January Court
Woodbridge, Virginia 22193 Telephone (703) 680-5050
OUR PLEDGE
To encourage, promote and dispense numismatic knowledge of Liberty
Seated coins; to cultivate fraternal relations among its members and all
those Interested in the science of numismatics.
OFFICERS
John McCloskey President/ Editor
Roy Ash Vice-President
JohnKroon Secretary-Treasurer
This is a non-profit organization dedicated to the attributions of the
LIBERTY SEATED COIN SERIES.
Printed and Bound
by
Additional copies available $3.50 each, from John McCloskey
No material in this publication
may be reproduced without permission of the authors.
1
GOBRECHT JOURNAL
Official Publication of the
LIBERTY SEATED COLLECTORS CLUB
VOLUME 12 NOVEMBER, 1985 NO. 34
CONTENTS
Die Punch Study, Liberty Seated Dollars 1840-1873
By David H. Cohen 3
The Fabulous 1870-S Half Dime
By Q. David Bowers 9
Small Diameter New Orleans Half Dollars 1840-1842
By David W. Lange 12
1847-0 Recut Date Half Dollar Update
By Mike Lloyd 14
Trends Value for Complete Sets of Liberty Seated Coins by Grade
By Duwayne Statzer 16
A Deteriorating Reverse Die on an 1854-0 Half Dollar
By Bill Fivaz 19
1846/5 Philadelphia Mint Seated Half Dollars
By William Bugert 23
The 1873-S Dime
By John W. McCloskey ^'
1891, Last Year, Last Chance
By Bill Fivaz
Vettel Wins Ahwash Award for 1985 23
On The Cover
At the ANA, Baltimore 1985 37
Letters to the Editor 38
Treasurer's Report
2
DIE PUNCH STUDY, LIBERTY SEATED DOLLARS 1840-1873
by
David H. Cohen
This article presents blown-up pictures of the last digit of each Liberty
Seated dollar from 1840 to 1873. 1 have given names to each number which I
feel reflects the most dominant characteristics of that number. If anyone
has a name which better reflects a number's characteristics, I invite their
contribution.
I have made general comparisons throughout the entire Liberty Seated
series. I have come to the conclusion that each year the last digit is similar
in style for all denominations from, half dimes to dollars. If one looks
carefully throughout the Liberty Seated series, it becomes apparent that
the process used to manufacture dies in the early part of the century was
changed as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the need for larger
mintages. Thus the Mint, somewhere from 1836 to 1840, changed the pro-
cess from a hand-made procedure to a more mechanical process. This tran-
sition can be seen even in the manufacture of the die punches and the ap-
plication of these punches to the individual working dies.
I have, for a period of time, been working on a study of the first three
punches in the date on Seated dollars but am not yet prepared to publish
my findings. I am publishing this article with the hope that some club
members may look more carefully at the individual date punches and come
up with a theory on how the first three punches were made and applied.
Your comments concerning this matter would be greatly appreciated.
DAVID H. COHEN
12 Lauderdale Drive
Binghamton, New York 13903
Telephone: (607) 798-0154
3
LAST DIGIT NAMES
LIBERTY SEATED DOLLARS
1840-1873
1840
FLAT BACK
ZERO
4
1853
NEEDLE NOSE
THREE
1854
PLUNGER TAILED
FOUR
1855
SPEEDING
FIVE
5
1856
LEANING
SIX
1857
POINTED TOP
SEVEN
1858
PERFECT
EIGHT
1859
FISH HOOK BOTTOMED
NINE
1860
PAPER CLIP CENTERED
ZERO
1861
PUMP HANDLE
ONE
1862
SWIRL TOPPED
TWO
1863
NEEDLE NOSE
THREE
1864
SHORT FOUR
WITH NO TAIL
1865
SONG NOTE TOPPED
FIVE
1866
DIGNIFIED
SIX
1868
FLAT BOTTOMED
EIGHT
1869
BIG EYED
NINE
1867
TONGUE BOTTOMED
SEVEN
1870
PAPER CLIP CENTERED
ZERO
1873
PUNCHING BAG TOPPED
THREE
—
CLASSICAL AMERICAN COINS
P.O. Box 9516
Seattle, Washington 98109
Half Dimes
1853-0 W/Arrows. A lusterous AU overlaid with attractive gold toning about the
periphery. Sharply struck and very attractive $ 89
1863-S Graded a solid XF with gray and gold toning over completely natural,
untampered with surfaces. Sharp 'full head' strike 87
1866-S XF-AU and choice for the grade. With a natural light gray toning and a full
strike. Completely problem free 118
1867 An exceedingly eye appealing business strike grading choice AU. Deep blue
and gold toning over natural, untampered with surfaces 695
Dimes
1844 A solid AU which at first glance looks fully uncirculated. Though 'dipped' some
time in the past, the coin is beginning to retone a light gray and gold color.
Sharply struck with problem free rims and fields. A difficult coin to
locate above XF $385
1847 XF with beautiful old time bull's eye toning in deep shades of blue and gold.
Problem free and exceedingly attractive 115
1850 XF and nearly choice. An even light toning throughout with good peripheral
luster. Natural in all respects 40
1852-0 A 'perfect' XF with an even gray toning exhibiting some iridescense. Well
struck with immaculate surfaces 169
1856-0 Choice AU and highly lusterous with full cartwheel effect. Possesses a needle
sharp strike and great eye appeal 120
1888 Another fully lusterous AU with choice surfaces under a touch of light toning.
A common coin, but a very pleasing example for the grade 59
Quarters
1852 A solid, well struck XF that possesses an even light rose toning on both
surfaces $155
1854 W/Arrows. A very well struck, lusterous AU that exhibits attractive surfaces
under very light blue toning 1 52
1855-S W/Arrows. A very pleasing choice XF with enough luster to almost command
a higher grade. Smooth fields and light even toning 275
1859-S XF and choice overall with a good strike and strong peripheral luster. Some
very light hairlines in the fields, but still a superior example. A very scarce
coin to find in the higher grades 445
1891-S Fairly common but this XF example possesses original attractive toning in
shades of blue, gold and rose. Smooth fields 52
Dollars
I860 An unplayed with, totally original XF-AU with pleasing rose-gray, and gold
toning. Sharply struck. A perfect coin for the grade $585
All coins are graded by a strict adherence to ANA standards and come with a \m weel< return
privilege. They were obtained because of their lack of hairlines and other problems and represent
superior examples from those usually seen.
I am always interested in obtaming Seated material - both the common, the scarce and the rare - in
original, problem free for the grade condition. Please let me make an offer.
Want lists actively serviced.
Bob Everett LSCC#440
(206) 283-1527 Evenings until 11:00 p.m.
8
THE FABULOUS 1870-S HALF DIME
by
Q. David Bowers
Only one example of the 1870-S half dime is known to exist and this
specimen joins the "rarest of the rare" in United States coinage. This cur-
rently unique specimen was first brought to light by Ed Milas of RARCOA in
1978 when he presented the piece to the Authentication Bureau of the
International Numismatic Society for study and evaluation. After studies
by the bureau, Charles Hoskins at INS concluded that "this U.S. 1870-S half
dime is both genuine and unaltered". In 1980 the coin was sold to John
Abbott, a well-known Michigan professional numismatist.
The selling price of $425,000 for the piece, as subsequently reported In A
Guide Book of United States Coins, was said to have been derived in an
unusual manner. What was the coin worth? The piece, a new discovery, had
no record of prices realized at auction. The thought went through the minds
of Ed Milas and Dennis Forgue, the owners of RARCOA, that some pro-
cedure must be established in determining a fair price. It was decided that
when their firm auctioned the 1804 silver dollar from the Garrett Collection
forThe Johns Hopkins University, a reasonable figure for the unique 1870-S
half dime would be $25,000 more than the price realized for the 1804 silver
dollar. In a fantastic "fight" among enthusiastic bidders on the auction
floor, the 1804 silver dollar broke all past records and soared to $400,000.
As agreed beforehand, $425,000 became the transaction basis for the
1870-S half dime.
The unique 1870-S half dime was catalogued for our September 9, 1985
sale by Auctions by Bowers & Merena Inc. Our staff grades it as Choice
AU-55 and describes it as follows:
OBVERSE: The obverse has a partially prooflike surface reflected by
fields which give evidence of having been struck from slightly bulged dies.
A delicate light golden toning of exquisite beauty is evident. The sharpness
of striking is typical for a business strike of the era. The denticles in some
portions are lightly defined and there is a slight weakness where the right
hand of Miss Liberty meets the shield. The date, lettering and other
features are sharp and bold. There is no evidence of any die breaks or die
wear. On the upper left arm of Miss Liberty there is a microscopic raised
line, indicating that there was a mark either on the coining die or the hub,
which serves to distinguish the issue. As all dies, including those from the
San Francisco Mint, were prepared at Philadelphia, it is not known whether
Philadelphia Mint coins exist with this feature or whether it is unique to the
presently offered 1870-S issue.
REVERSE: The reverse is likewise prooflike and has a delicate gold ton-
ing and this side is mingled with just a whisper of gunmetal blue. The
sharpness is typical for business strikes of this era. There is a slight weak-
ness at the upper left of the wreath, the S mintmark is sharp and distinct
and is "filled" and some denticles are lightly impressed.
9
Discussion of the situation of the San Francisco Mint in 1870 is in order
at this time. This was a year of confusion in San Francisco and possibly in
Philadelphia as well. The facilities in San Francisco were cramped and
inefficient during this period. In the early years the San Francisco Mint con-
ducted business in a structure measuring about 60 feet square located on
Commercial Street, using equipment and facilities acquired from Curtis
Perry & Ward, who earlier struck private gold coins. The situation was
described in a report by the director of that institution:
"It is almost impossible to conceive how so much work can be done, so
much business transacted safely, in so small a space. The entrance to the
business office is up a steep pair of stairs and through a dark hall rendered
unwholesome by the fumes of acid and uncomfortable by the noise of
machinery and the heat of the engine. The apartments of the different
officers and the desk of the clerk are cramped and inconvenient, the vaults
depend for their safety chiefly upon the presence of well-tried watchmen".
To remedy the confined situation, a new mint structure was planned, the
cornerstone of which was laid in 1870. Work was completed several years
later and in the summer of 1874 the edifice, located at Fifth and Mission
streets, was ready for coinage. This structure was occupied until 1937.
when the operations were transferred to a three story marble building now
known as the San Francisco Assay Office.
At this point a resume of the silver 1870-S coinage is relevant:
1870-S Half Dime: No coinage records believed extant. Only one coin
known to numismatists, believed to be unique. Circumstances and exact
date of manufacture are unknown.
1870-S Dime: Mintage record of 50,000 pieces. Very scarce in all grades,
scarcer than the indicated mintage suggests, leading to the conjecture
that not all were released or that the mintage record is inaccurate. Quite
elusive, especially in higher grades.
1870-S Half Dollar Mintage record of 1,004,000 pieces. Mintage record
probably correct. Examples occur on the numismatic market with the fre-
quency that this mintage indicates. About as rare, more or less, as other
San Francisco Mint half dollars of the era with comparable mintages.
1870-S Silver Dollar Apparently no mintage record has survived. A rarity
in the Liberty Seated dollar series, no more than 10 to 15 believed to exist
today. Most of these show wear, indicating that these were business
strikes made for commercial purposes, not special strikings. Cir-
cumstances and exact date of manufacture are unknown.
The 1870-S half dime is one of the most marvelous numismatic dis-
coveries in recent decades. Prior to a few years ago no one dreamed that
an 1870-S half dime existed. Indeed, no such coin is mentioned in the mint
reports. Apparently sloppy records were kept in San Francisco in 1870, for
there is no mintage record of the 1870-S silver dollar either and a number of
these dollars are known to exist. Fame will undoubtedly come to the 1870-S
half dime and it will take its place among the great numismatic rarities in
United States coinage.
10
Carefully Graded Seated Coins from John Griffin
HALF DIMES
1837 Sm. Dt., VF, ch. original gray,
Cud at knee $80
1840 WD, XF+ obv. attractive
heavy gold-green-blue 1 75
1848 Med. Date, lusterous XF+ 55
1849-0 G+, heavy original toning 25
1856 XF, heavy original toning 35
1863-S Nearly VG, original 15
1867-S VF, Obv. solder removed 15
DIMES
1841-0 Abt. F, orig. Spot on knee $ 10
1843-0 Fine-12 83
1847 Abt. Fine, nice gray, Var. 3 25
1847 XF-AU, very sharp, Var. 1, gray-
black except rev. center 145
1848 Abt. Fine, original gray 10
1849-0 Large 0, XF, weak head and
right stars as always 175
1853-0 F/VG, gray-gold 12
1858-0 XF-AU, few marks in fields,
toned sharp 135
1863-S VF original 60
1865 Fine-12, no problems 375
1876-CC VF, toned 9
1880 F15/VG10, scratch above knot 145
1880 XF, fields lightly marked 195
QUARTERS
1844 XF, gold halo, some luster, a
few reverse bag marks $ 57
1845 VG-10, mottled gray 12
1845 XF-AU, sharp, some luster 75
1854 VG-I-, well toned 11
1856 XF, heavy original toning 43
1858 Fine, medium gray 15
1861 AF, cleaned, retoned 10
1861 VF, original 21
1861 AU-58 but whizzed, sharp 85
1865 AG-G, toned, nice for grade 20
1867-S Abt. Fine, minor obv. scratches . . 135
1868
1868-
1869-
1870
1873
QUARTERS Continued
1876 VG-10/8, toned $ 10
1876-CC Fine reeding XF+, porous
streak on obv. center 45
1878-S F-15, orig. heavy gray.
Many sm. digs on rev 69
1880 F-15, medium gray 145
1884 VF-f-, no problems 260
1885 VG10/G6 140
1890 XF, but much luster 125
1891 Abt. XF, tiny nick in obv.
field 29
HALF DOLLARS
1841 VF+, original, good strike,
a few hidden marks, nice $165
1842 Solid XF, lusterous 115
1843 Abt. XF, well toned 52
1843 XF, traces of luster 75
1844 VF-20, minor rev. scratch 30
1845-0 N/D, Good+, major obv.
scratches 7
1846 Tall Dt., F-15, many marks 17
1846 Med. Dt., XF-I-, some
luster, streaky toning 70
1847 XF, luster mostly on rev 65
1848 AU, much luster, sharp 210
1849 XF-AU, luster 110
1853 Rays, VF, medium gray 65
1854 Abt. XF, original gray-gold 55
1854-0 Good+ 11
1856-0 Abt. XF, recut 56 45
1864-S VF, light gray, choice 50
1865 VF-20, weak head, flat stars . 45
1866-S Motto VF, weak mint mark,
mark by obv. rim, die breaks ... 39
1874 VG, a few marks 19
1874 XF, retoned gray 145
DOLLARS
1847 XF, gray-black, old scratch
VG-10, 6V2 letters 120
S F-1 2+ , ch. gray surfaces 92
S VG + , 3 major scratches 45
F-15, medium gray 80
Arrows VF, dark gray 49
on reverse $220
TRADE DOLLARS
1878-S XF+, choice surfaces,
heavy original gray black $130
30 Day Return • Add $1.00 Postage & Insurance on Orders under $15.00
JOHN GRIFFIN
P.O. BOX 26019 • Denver, Colorado 80226
Telephone (303) 986-0767
11
SMALL DIAMETER NEW ORLEANS
HALF DOLLARS 1840-1842
by
David W. Lange
A feature peculiar to the half dollars struck at the New Orleans Mint dur-
ing the early 1840's is a diameter that is smaller than prescribed. Although
Yeoman's A Guide Book of United States Coins states the diameter of half
dollars for these years to be 30.6mm, an examination of the New Orleans
Mint coins of the years 1840 through 1842 reveals that they fall significantly
short of this figure. That is, significantly short when measured with a
micrometer. It has been my experience that the diameter is never below
30.14mm, nor is it ever above 30.37mm.
I first became aware of this oddity some years ago at a time when I still
placed my coins in albums. Perhaps, other collectors may sympathize with
my experience of fitting each coin into its proper hole only to have the early
New Orleans pieces spin around. This couldn't be ascribed to wear, as the
problem coins were generally matched for condition with the other pieces.
This troublesome situation was relieved only when I began to store my
coins in individual holders.
This interesting bit of trivia was then put aside but not quite forgotten.
Recently, I was informed that at least one dealer had offered a small
diameter New Orleans half dollar to a collector at a premium price on the
premise that it was a rare variety. While this was probably the result of the
dealer merely being ignorant of the true facts, it revealed that the time had
come for me to publish what I knew about these coins.
Before selling the greater part of my half dollar collection two summers
ago, I recorded whatever information that could be obtained by studying
each coin. Dropping a few not-so-subtle hints one Christmas had produced
an excellent micrometer of appropriate range and this was used to meas-
ure the diameter of each piece. While measuring the diameter of the New
Orleans Mint coins produced the results that I had remembered from my
coin album days, it came as a surprise to me that the early (1839-1842)
Philadelphia Mint halves were universally oversize, the one exception
being the 1840 Seated/Bust muling. The Philadelphia diameters ranged
from a low of 30.68mm for the 1839 with drapery to a high of 30.97mm for
the 1842 medium date.
12
This pattern for the two mints continued through 1842, after which tinne,
both facilities began coining half dollars which more closely met the
prescribed diameter of 30.6mm. So, while a standard may have existed, it
was not adheared to very carefully.
This wide disparity in diameter between half dollars of the two mints
would seem to bear out a theory of mine proposed in other articles. That is,
while the dies for each mint were known to have been produced exclusively
at the Philadelphia Mint, I believe the collars were made locally by the
facility which used them. It must be remembered also that the New
Orleans Mint employed a screw press during the years in question, while
the Philadelphia Mint utilized only the steam driven knuckle press. The
peculiarities inherent in these two technologies may account for the dif-
ferent collar sizes employed.
While the coins measured in my research were not strictly uncirculated,
they were still high grade pieces and I believe that they provided me with
accurate data. The only major variety not included in this study was the
1842-0 Small Date. Owing to its rarity in high grade, a specimen was not
available for examination.
HALF DIMES
1840-0 Drapery, Fine $75.00
1849-0 Good plus, scarce 25.00
1851-0 Good 6.00
1861 Almost VF 12.50
1862 Unc. MS-60 230.00
1868 VF plus 130.00
DIMES
1840 No Drapery, Fine $ 9.50
1849 Good 4.50
1851 VF 20.00
1853 Arrows, Almost VF 9.50
1857 VF 11.00
1859-0 Fine 21.50
1860 Fine 9.00
1864-S Fine plus 32.00
1877 Unc, toned 255.00
1889 Fine 4.00
1890-S Good 4.50
QUARTERS
1858 Fine $ 13.50
1876- CC Fine plus 27.00
1877- CC VF, weak strike 30.00
HALF DOLLARS
1846-0 VG $ 25.00
1853 Arr & Rays, Good-VG 17.00
1854-0 Arrows, Good 11.00
1857 Almost Fine 22.00
1858 Fine plus 25.00
1858 VG 21.50
1858- 0 Fine 25.00
1859- 0 Good/VG 14. OO
1862-S Good/VG 17.00
1874 Arrows, Good 13.50
1876 Good 10.00
Please add $2 to help defray postage & handling.
C. E. Bullowa, LSCC #668
1616 Walnut St. • Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone (215) 735-5517 • 33 years in business
13
1847-0 RECUT DATE HALF DOLLAR UPDATE
by
Mike Lloyd
In Issue #24 of the Journal James Pryor published an article entitled "An
Unreported 1847-0 Half" and in Issue #27 a letter with additional informa-
tion on this variety was presented by Randy Wiley. Both authors discussed
the characteristics and rarity of the 1847-0 Recut Date half dollar. My
observations indicate that coins struck from this obverse die are not un-
common at all, but coins from the obverse die in it's original recut state as
illustrated by the Pryor coin in Issue #24 are indeed scarce.
I recently obtained an 1847-0 half dollar in VF condition that is clearly a
recut date coin with the full original underdate bold as shown in Issue #24.
The reverse is the same as the Pryor coin but with less extensive reverse
die breaks as shown in the photo. The die break between IT of UNITED to
the denticles has not yet begun, and the die break from the S in STATES to
the denticles, although not clear in the photo, is just beginning.
I have a second 1847-0 half dollar, only in VG condition, which clearly
shows the remnants of an earlier 4 above and below the crossbar where it
meets the upright as seen in the photo in Issue #24. This may be Beistle 30
because the 4 is the only digit where recutting is visible. Although this coin
is worn, I believe that if more of the underdate was struck into this coin, it
would still be visible. The drapery on this coin is full but weak. The reverse
of this coin is an enigma with not enough detail remaining for a com-
prehensive comparison. However the mintmark placement seems identical
to the coin described by Pryor yet with no die breaks visible.
Reverse of 1847-0 Recut Date Half Dollar Showing
Die Breaks through ITED STA
14
I have a third 1847-0 half dollar in AU condition struck from a heavily i
lapped obverse die. This coin has the date and stars very lightly impressed,
the bottom left portion of the rock is very weak and parts of the foot, sandal
and rock are missing on the right. The drapery at the elbow is gone except
for a disconnected line of drapery at the right elbow. No trace of an under-
date is visible.
I was able to compare my coin with the heavily lapped obverse to the
Pryor coin described in Issue #24 and we concluded that, in fact, both coins
were struck from the same obverse die. The die pairing of my coin is dif-
ferent, the reverse having the mintmark closer to the stem and none of the
reverse die breaks of the Pryor coin.
The diagnostic characteristic which unequivocally ties my three coins
and the Pryor coin to the same obverse die is a small gouge in the base of
the rock directly above the stand of the 4 in the date. This appears as a
gouge slanting upward to the right on high grade coins but it wears well
and is noticeable even on worn coins. On worn coins it appears to be a nick
from circulation.
I concur with Randy Wiley's hypothesis that an early fatality to the
original reverse die may have forced the original die pair out of service. But, i
it appears, after being lapped the obverse was paired with a second reverse
die. It was used, then lapped and paired with a third reverse die and used
again. This usage pattern therefore created three distinct obverse die
states. I have seen several other well worn 1847-0 half dollars with the
diagnostic gouge above the stand of the 4. This obverse undoubtedly saw
lengthy service to meet the half dollar coinage demands placed upon the
New Orleans mint in 1847.
Comments or additional information concerning this proposed die state
sequence are invited. Contact Mike Lloyd, 24700 Mason Road, Poulsbo,
Washington, 98370 (206-779-3960). The pictures appearing with this article
were taken by Bill Bremer, Poulsbo, Washington.
15
TRENDS VALUE FOR COMPLETE SETS OF
LIBERTY SEATED COINS BY GRADE
by
Duwayne Statzer
Being the longest running multi-series in U.S. history, Seated coins offer
the collector a wide variety of challenges. There are six different denomina-
tions from half dimes to dollars and each set can be a challenge in itself to
complete by date and mint. Complete sets in each denomination can be
assembled if your pocketbook holds but any of these sets would be an
expensive undertaking even if you leave out the fantasy coins, proof only
issues, varieties and super rarities. Thus evaluations of each series will be
calculated eliminating the following rarities:
Half Dimes: 1859 and 1860 Transitional Patterns and the unique 1870-S.
Dimes: 1859 Transitional Pattern and the 1873-CC No Arrows.
Twenty-cents: 1876-CC and 1877 and 1878 proof only issues.
Quarters: 1842 Small Date, 1866 No Motto and 1873-CC No Arrows.
Halves: 1847/6, 1853-0 No Arrows, 1866 No Motto and 1873 Open 3 No
Arrows.
Dollars: 1851, 1852, 1858, 1866 No Motto and 1870-S.
With these super rarities omitted any complete set of any denomination
and grade would be a treasure for its owner. But how many collectors have
stopped to figure out what a complete set of any of the denominations
would be worth in a given grade. You can tie up a lot of money in the coins
that you acquire but if you make good buys you should have a good safe
investment. Curiousity got me to wondering one day what a complete set of
Seated coins would cost. I decided to figure costs by grade for each of the
six denominations. I used Coin World Trends for August 14th and August
21st of 1985. Half dimes are not listed in Very Good condition so I took the
average between Good and Fine for these values. Trends values for com-
plete sets of Seated coins by grade are then as follows:
Trends Values for Complete Sets of Seated Coins
August 14-21, 1985
GRADE
Very
Very
Extra
Series, Pieces In Series
Good
Good
Fine
Fine
Fine
Half Dimes - 72
$ 2,063
$ 2,829
$ 3,594
$ 5,954
$ 10,807
Dimes - 118
5,385
7,717
11,752
17,162
27,855
Twenty Cents - 4
249
301
380
568
1,000
Quarters - 111
9,355
12,661
17,841
27,600
44,732
Halves - 116
7,570
10,569
14,853
22,504
41,502
Dollars - 41
7,855
10,383
14,775
19,830
29,960
Total Values by Grade
$32,477
$44,460
$63,195
$93,618
$155,856
16
The short twenty cent series is the least expensive and the quarter series
Is the most expensive across each grade. I hope that this listing doesn't
discourage anyone from attempting to complete a set of Seated coins. This
listing is only meant to show the reader how the coins are priced in Coin
World Trends by grade. Prices may vary from one magazine to another but
this listing should give approximate values for each series.
My pocket book tells me that I will have to settle for fine to very fine coins
with maybe a few very goods if I am ever going to obtain complete sets of
these Seated series. While many dates are very rare, complete sets can be
purchased if you are not particular as to which grade you obtain. Complete
sets in matching grades are particularly difficult to assemble. Good luck
and happy collecting.
WANTED • WANTED • WANTED
1844/1844-0 DOUBLED DATE 50$
First date punched high into base of rock
ANY/ ALL GRADES
1846/Horizontal 6 50$
ANY GRADE
Please quote condition and price, or ship for same day offer!
Send to: LARRY BRIGGS RARE COINS
P.O. Box 187
Lima, Ohio 45802
Telephone (419) 228-2285 days, (419) 229-5609 nights
17
BETTER DATES #6
I am currently undertaking an ambitious project — Put-
ting together a complete set of Seated quarters. I need
capital and coins, and will consider counter offers of
coins I need and/or cash. What do you have to offer?
HALF DIMES
1856 XF, full denticles $32
1867 VG, original 275
1867-S VF, original 35
QUARTERS
1840 Choice VF $107
1840-0 Drapery, VG, original 22
1841 VG-F, original 60
1841 VF, original 90
1842-0 Large Date, VF 38
1844 VF 42
1844 AU, light toning, some luster . . 95
1849 Fine 24
1849-0 AG+ + no problems 305
1853/4 XF-AU 295
1853-0 Good, recut date, stars 7
1853-0 XF 85
1860-S G/AG 42
1869-S Fine, small mark on knee 80
1875-CC AG/Fr, no problems 26
1875-CC Choice XF, original 310
1877-S S/HorS,AU, Semi P L. toned . 275
QUARTERS Continued
1877- CC VG-h $ 9
1878- CC G-VG, full rims 15
1890 F, sm. obv. edge mark 62
1891-0 Choice XF 475
HALF DOLLARS
1840 Sm. letters, F-VF $ 38
1853-0 Fine, small mark in field,
full LIBERTY 30
1855- S AG, no problems 180
1856- 0 XF, original 45
1857 XF, ANACS 40/40 cleaned 40
1858- 0 VF 30
1859- 0 AG + /G 7
1863-S XF-AU 52
1866 VF 43
1868 XF 140
1869 Good+ 9
1870-CC AG, no problems 275
1877-CC AG, no problems 6
DOLLARS
1859-0 XF, sharp $210
WANTED: Will pay 85% of COIN PRICES TRENDS for the follow-
ing no problems coins: 1871, 1872 25(i; AG-AU; 1875-S 250; VF-AU;
1850-1852 Philadelphia halves AG-VF. Problem coins also wanted.
All Coins Guaranteed, ANA Grading
Please Add $1.00 for Postage
14 Day Return if in Grig .lal. Unopened Holder.
Layaway and Approval Service Available
HARRY E. SMITH • LSCC #566
P.O. Box 705 • South San Francisco, California 94083
Telephone: (415) 583-9908
18
I
A DETERIORATING REVERSE DIE ON AN
1854-0 HALF DOLLAR
by
Bill Fivaz
A very interesting and somewhat perplexing reverse die has been un-
covered on a relatively high grade (XF) 1854-0 Half Dollar, one that is
presented here for examination and study. I discovered this "mess" about
5 months ago and purchased the coin for two reasons. One, the obverse
has the somewhat typical "outlined" date, arrows, stars and figure, the
result of what I feel is the shoulder of the various punches hitting the field
of the die during the die preparation. The second reason is the badly
deteriorated reverse die, the most severe I have ever run across.
Looking first at the obverse, the photos below show the "out-lining" on
various parts of the design.
Outlining ot Stars on 1854-0 Half Dollar
Outlining of Date on 1854-0 Half Dollar
This phenomenon is quite common on most denominations of U.S. coins
in the 1850 - 1870 era and is particularly noticeable on Indian Cents, Nickel
3$ and Shield 5$ pieces. If you examine any number of high grade Indian
Cents from this period, you'll find the same "outline" on most of them
around the lettering and often on the outside of the feathers.
Again, I theorize that the punches used to produce the dies for these
coins were improperly designed, with the shoulder surrounding the par-
ticular feature (letter, star, figure, etc.) too close to that design and not suf-
ficiently recessed so as to avoid contact with the die face upon hubbing.
This could even be true on a "ring" punch if that was employed in the die
making.
That may or may not explain the obverse ... but what about the reverse? I
have included below several photos of different areas on the reverse of this
coin, each showing what appears to be severe die deterioration of some
sort. The raised metal portions under and within the letters are very rough,
ill-defined and obviously quite heavy in nature. Note that the last "A" in
AMERICA is almost totally filled in. What caused this? Was it a badly
rusted die? A die manufactured with inferior steel or one that was anneal-
ed improperly causing this crumbling effect?
Outlining of Design on Reverse of 1854-0 Half Dollar
20
Deterioration of Letters ICA on Reverse of 1854-0
Half Dollar
At this point I think I'd opt for a very rusted die, but I'm certainly open to
any other theories. Whatever the cause, it is obviously a major defect and
I'd welcome information from anyone who has a similar specimen -possibly
even an earlier or later die state. If you DO have a similar variety, check the
"I" in UNITED very closely. It appears to have been rehubbed, as there is a
definite two-level diagnostic on the vertical stem. This feature could also
be an important clue to the other problems.
You can contact me at: P.O. Box 888660, Dunwoody, GA 30338. I'll look
forward to hearing from you.
Deterioration of Letters UNIT on Reverse of 1854-0
Half Dollar
21
LARRY BRIGGS RARE COINS
HALF DIMES
1842 Choice BU S250
1843 XF 28
1844 Choice XF/AU 55
1845 XF 29
1858-0 Choice XF+ 43
1864 G/VG, rare 235
1869 VF/XF, scarce 38
1872 Doubled Die, VG 160
-0
-G
-0
DIMES
1838
1839-
1839-
1839-
1841
1843
1843
1843
1845
1845
1849
1861
1864-S
1868-S
1871- S
1872- S
1873- S
1885-S
1888
1838/8, unlisted, Ch. VF $ 75
Rare cracked rev., G/VG 35
1839-0/0, VG-F 23
1838-0 Rev., Ch. Fine, rare 300
1841/184, unlisted, VF 75
1843/1843, Fine 45
1843/1843, XF, lite bend 60
1843/1843, Choice XF 125
1845/1845, VG 23
1845/45, PLAU-h 425
1849/49, unlisted. Fine 65
Obverseof 1860, Ch. VF 40
Fine 20
Fine 13
Choice VF 48
Choice VF 70
VG, old cleaning 9
Polished Good, very rare 125
1888/8, unlisted, sharp XF 30
QUARTERS
1841 Nice G/VG, scarce S 40
1842 Large Date, rare VF 195
1842- 0 Small Date, VF, A-2 rev 950
1843- 0 Small 0, XF/AU 300
1843-0 Large 0, VF, very rare 350
1847-0 Perfect Reverse, Fine + 85
1848 Doubled Date, sharp XF 160
1849-0 VF, a few old pin marks 1100
1852-0 Choice F/VF 350
1853 53/2, N/A, VF, rare 400
1854-0 HugeO. VG, rare 170
1857-S Choice XF+ rare 475
1864- S Fine, rare & choice 325
1865- S Fine, rare 145
1870- CC Fine. ANACS papers, rare 2450
1871- S Fine, rare 325
1873-CC VF/XF, choice & very rare 2250
HALVES
1839-0 Choice Fine $185
1842-0 Small Date, extremely rare, AG-i- 550
1842-0 Small Date, VG but cleaned 850
1846-0 6/5, VG, reverse rotated 45° 175
1846-0 Tall Date, AG 48
1846-0 Tall Date, Good 63
1850 0/0, XF, old cleaning 325
1855 5/4, XF, rare 350
1855 1855/854, XF/AU cleaned 325
1855-S Good, No Drapery 300
1855- S G/VG 345
1856- 0 56/56, Ch. F/VF, scarce 50
1856-S G/VG, rare 30
1856-S Choice XF 225
1858- S G/VG. scarce 24
1859- 0 Sharp AU. light gray toning 110
1860 Sharp AU. rare date 175
1866-S NolVlotto. G/VG 55
1866-S No Motto, Choice XF 295
1870 1/1 Choice VG 25
1870 VG/F 30
1870 Sharp AU, nice 185
1870- CC Good, no damage 450
1871 Choice AU 145
1871- S AU, toned. Smalls 87
1872- CC Sharp Good 28
1872- CC Choice VF, weak E 135
1873- CC N/A, G/VG nice 75
1873 Small Arr. Die #3, Good 75
1873 Small Arr. Die #2. cleaned VF 240
1873- S Small s. scarce 23
1873 Sm. Arr., 4 striper. XF cleaned 300
1874- CC G/VG 165
1875- S Choice VF, rim tick 35
1876- CC G/VG 23
1877- S No Drapery VG 25
1877-CC XF 65
1880 VG. cleaned long ago 150
1881 Good 135
1884 Choice AU business strike 525
1888 Choice VG/F, rare 175
1889 VG. cleaned long ago 155
1890 Choice G/VG rare 155
1891 AG/G 13
1891 Good 30
1891 Fine, scarce 65
LARRY BRIGGS RARE COINS
P.O. BOX 187 • LIMA, OHIO 45802
Telephone (419) 228-2285 days,
(419) 229-5609 nights
WANT LISTS SOLICITED ■ OTHER COINS IN STOCK
14 Day Return Privilege • Approval Service With References
22
1846/5 PHILADELPHIA MINT SEATED HALF DOLLARS
by
William Bugert
Very little information is available on the 1846/5 Philadelphia Half Dollar.
I began to realize this years ago when I tried to find a detailed description
and photograph of this elusive variety. Not knowing exactly what to look for
I laboriously scrutinized every 1846 half I could find. This article is nneant to
help others with their search for the 1846/5 variety.
Setting aside auction catalogs for a moment, the two available sources
of information to date on the 1846/5 half are Beistle's 1929 half dollar
reference and Taxay's 1976 Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Both are quoted to
aid in understanding this rarity.
Beistle: "1846 1 A. Recent (should read 'Recut') date over 1845. A fine die
crack runs along the base of the date, then to the left close to the lower left
serif of 1, and to the end of base of Liberty, joining all stars on the left.
Another runs from the center of the top of the foot, and out to edge, at the
fifth segment of milling (i.e. denticle) from the toe. Rev. A. A heavy impress-
ed reverse. A die crack runs from the edge, to the base of F in HALF, circles
to the left, along the lower base of HALF, to the olive branch, and then to
the edge, near U in UNITED. Another runs from the edge, near U and
through UNITED STA. Still another is over MERICA and then to the edge.
Very rare."
Beistle describes this same obverse in a later die state but with a dif-
ferent reverse:
Beistle: "1846 1a B. Over 1845. Same as No. 1, except for a die crack that
joins all stars. Rev. B. This die is similar to letter A, except it is free from die
cracks. The first vertical stripe on the left has a hole in the stripe near the
top and an akcidefect (Beistle's term for die clash marks) is over three bars
on the left, also a number of fine die defect lines are under the stripes on
the right side of the shield. Very rare."
In another description of the same dies as last but with a still later
obverse die state:
Beistle: "1846 lb B. Re-cut over 1845. Same as No. 1, except 6 over 5 has
been re-cut and is free from die defects. Rev. B. Same as letter B."
At this point it would be worthwhile to emphasize the discovery of a
Beistle IbC 1846/5 half dollar in John Griffin's letter to the editor in Issue
#13 of the Gobrecht Journal. John describes the reverse as "... matches
Beistle's reverse C in every way. No die breaks, unfinished between olive
leaves and left wing, between arrow heads and openings in the letters
MERA and AF."
23
Taxay on the other hand has this short description of the 1846/5:
"F159. 1846 over 5. Small date, same punches as on 1846 medium date
cent. Difficult to see as only knob and very tip of 5 show plainly. High R7.
Unknown in unc'
I own examples of the B-1 A and B-laB and examination of these provided
the remaining information for this article.
For consistency and clarity I elected to remain with Beistle's reverse A
and reverse B designation and will expand on his descriptions.
1846/5 OBVERSE. This description is of the later die state. The date is
.083 inches high and is low in the field. A line drawn from the tip of the
shield perpendicular with the base of the rock will bisect the left side of the
8. The remains of the original 5 are clearly evident beneath the 6. Within the
lower loop of the 6 one can see the tip of the ball of a 5. The vertical portion
of the 5 is visible along the left side of the inside top loop of the 6. The
horizontal bar of the 5 protrudes from the left inside ball of the 6. A heavy
die polish line extends from the lower left base of the 4 towards the top of
the lower loop of the 8. A fine die crack joins all the digits in the date and
extends from the 6 into the field through the denticles to the edge of the
coin. A second die crack starts at Liberty's third toe and passes through
the 5th and 6th denticles above Liberty's foot to the edge of the coin. The
last obverse die crack joins stars 1-7, Liberty's head, and star 8. Die polish
lines are clearly evident in the recessed areas of the shield below TY in
LIBERTY.
24
REVERSE A. This die is extensively cracked and is easily identifiable.
The most prominent die crack curves from the left upright of the U in
UNITED to the rim three denticles away. Not mentioned by Beistle are die
cracks that run along the base of DOL and join the rim from the I and D in
UNITED.
REVERSE B. Beistle's reverse B descrption is quite accurate. The left set
of vertical bars in the shield does indeed have a "hole" in it. This was most
probably caused by extensive die polishing to remove the clash marks still
visible in the shield's lower right. Die polish lines are visible throughout the
reverse die most notably above TE in STATES, ME in AMERICA and within
the shield's upper right.
For the two reverses paired with the 1846/5 obverse die, reverse A was
struck first. The obverse die cracks are much more prominent when paired
with reverse B.
At this point a few comments on Taxay's description are in order. Taxay
believes the same date punch was used for this variety and the 1846
medium date cent. I concur with John McCloskey's findings on pages
299-300 of the Gobrecht Journal, Collective Volume Number One. Sum-
marized, he finds little correlation between the large cent and half dollar
dates of this size. I have found that the 6 in the date on the large cent is
decisively different from that used on the half dollar.
Finally, I would like to list the 1846/5's as they are known to me:
1. BU, Ex-Reed Hawn, Stack's Auction, 28 Aug. 1973, lot 152, $700. Ex-
Lester Merkin, 13 Feb. 1971, lot 742, $400.
2. BU. Ex-Kriesberg's Cohen Auction, 11 Sept. 1973, lot 563, $1275.
3. MS-65. Ex-New England Auction, Nov. 1975, lot 587, $1100.
4. MS-65. Ex-Stack's James Stack Auction, March 1975, lot 442, $775.
5. MS-60-65. Ex-Kagin's Aug. 1977 ANA Auction, lot 1507, $1000.
Previously this may have been the Cox specimen in Stack's 1962 auction
$450. This specimen has a small planchet defect by the beak of the eagle.
6. MS-63. Ex-Bowers and Merena Cohen auction of 24-26 Jan. 1985, lot
1737, $1100. Ex-B&R Paxman auction of Nov. 1974, lot 638, $400. Ex-
Paramount's Century Sale, 1965, lot 1182, $850.
7. MS-63. Ex-Kagin's Auction Number 325, Sept. 1981, lot 1144. This may
be the 77 ANA coin.
8. MS-63. Ex-B&R Pearl Auction, June 1979, lot 1502, $850.
9. MS-60+ Ex-Kagin's Auction Number 313, Sept. 1978, lot 628, with-
drawn from auction.
10. AU-50-1- with rim nicks. Ex-Superior Auction, Feb. 1981, lot 440.
11. AU. Ex-Lester Merkin Auction, 12 Feb. 1972, lot 212, $195. Ex-Lester
Merkin Auction, 15 March 1967, lot 357, $105.
12. XF. Bill Bugert, purchased unattributed, Lanham, MD coin show 2
Sept. 1983, $46.
25
13 and 14. XF. Two specimens marked 1846/5 half dollars were seen at
the Kagin bourse table of the Lanham, MD coin show sometime in early
1981. Both graded XF and were seen by Bill Bugert and Randy Wiley.
15. XF. Ex-David Bland ad in Coin World sometime in spring 1984.
16. XF. Ex-Paul Padget, Ex-Bill Orendi. This is one of the two specimens
listed in Randy Wiley's Seated half dollar census.
17. XF. Dave Randall, a Colorado Springs, CO collector. Ex-John Griffin, a
dealer from Denver, CO. This is one of the two specimens listed in Randy
Wiley's Seated half dollar census.
18. XF. Bill Fivaz.
19. VF. Ex-Stack's Copeland Sale, April 1967, lot 952, $155. Ex-WGC, April
1945, $62.50.
Some of the above coins may be duplicate listings; data supplied in auc-
tion catalogs is at best conflicting. I believe others exist both correctly and
incorrectly attributed.
Now that I have presented all this information, I would like to throw in
some controversy. I have seen Bill Fivaz's #18 specimen and this is a very
early die state. Bill poses a very convincing argument that the 1846/5 is
actually an 1846/6/6/6.
I would like to thank Randy Wiley for providing valuable information on
the number of these rarities known. He spent numerous hours researching
both his and Julian Leidman's extensive auction catalog libraries.
Liberty Seated Half Dollars
FOR SALE
Selling Duplicates to Complete Collection
Send Self Addressed Stamped Envelope for List
J. E. Moscinski, LSCC #398, ANA R125126
3628 North Pine Street
Davenport, Iowa 52806
Telephone (319) 386-5759
After 4:00 p.m. CST
26
THE 1873-8 DIME
by
John W. McCloskey
The 1873-S dime is one of two dates from the San Francisco mint that
was struck With Arrows. As a With Arrows type this date is in demand but
with a mintage of 455,000 pieces, it is not considered rare by date collec-
tors. The relatively large mintage might suggest a number of die varieties
but Kam Ahwash only listed one variety with a small thin s mintmark. I have
owned an example of a second variety with a large mintmark for some time
and this unlisted variety caught my interest when I received a letter asking
for information about it from Brian Greer. I have therefore decided to pre-
sent pictures of the new variety which I will call 1873-S A-2. Dime collectors
might be interested in examining their collections for additional examples
of the new variety.
The 1873-S A-2 dime is easily identified by the style and position of the
mintmark on the reverse. The new A-2 variety has a mintmark that is 0.9mm
tall and 0.6mm wide and located well to the left of the center of the space
between the ribbons. The mintmark is almost completely filled in and is
often very weak, even on high grade pieces. While only a few examples of
this new variety have been observed, it would be too early to say that it is a
rare variety. Closer study of this date will eventually lead to reasonable rari-
ty ratings between the two varieties.
Large Thick S Mintmark on 1873-S A-2 Dime
27
For comparison purposes I have also included a picture of the 1873-S A-1
variety. On this variety the mintmark is 0.7mm tall and 0.6mm wide and
centered in the space between the ribbons. The mintmark is thin with wide
openings and almost always weak, even on high grade pieces.
Despite the relatively large mintage of this date I have not found any dif-
ference in the obverses of the pieces that I have examined. On the known
obverse the date is located high in the field and the left edae of the serif of
the 1 in the date falls under the space between the 8th and 9th stripes in the
obverse shield. The left arrow points below the upper serif of the 1 and the
right arrow points to the upper part of the lower loop of the 3. The pendant
in the skirt is over the space between the 8 and 7 in the date. The mintage
figures would indicate the possible existance of additional obverse
varieties but so far no others have been identified.
The 1873-S dime offers good opportunities for numismatic research. Very
little is known about this date and there are enough examples available for
study by the interested collector. Other varieties may exist but it will take a
continuing study by interested collectors to uncover any other unrecorded
varieties.
Small Thin S Mintmark on 1873-S A-1 Dime
28
Obverse of 1873-S A-2 Dime
SHERIDAN DOWNEY
405 - 14th Street, Suite 800
Oakland, OA 94612
Telephone (415) 444-4000
1. 1838 Small Stars Dime.
Choice original A.U. Iridescent blue, halo toning; nearly full
luster; doubled die reverse; magnificent eye appeal. $395
2. 1861 - 0 Proof Half Dollar.
One of only 6 examples known: Accompanied by an unqualified
letter of authentication, signed August 5, 1983 by Walter Breen.
This showpiece coin grades Proof 63. It is absolutely original,
with mirror surfaces that exhibit gorgeous blue and gold toning!
Acquired by the owner in Kagin's January, 1983 N.A.S.C. sale:
Lot 386. Discovered in 1982. This coin is destined for Auction
'86 if not acquired by a fellow L.S.C.C. member. The price of
this extreme rarity is only ... $3,875
Full 30 day return privilege from date you receive coins.
29
1891, LAST YEAR, LAST CHANCE
by
Bill Fivaz
1891 was the last year in which Liberty Seated coins were struck. After
54 years of some of the most fascinating and unusual die varieties in any
series, the last year adds a final "amen" to the nutty nonsense. It seems
that the die makers in Philadelphia had some fun during this last year. The
1891 dime and the 1891 quarter pictured in this article must have been pro-
duced by the same employee, one who had a penchant for hiding numbers
far below the date in the denticles.
The picture of the 1891 dime shows the upper loop of an 8 peaking up
through the denticles between the 8 and 9 in the date. Not to be outdone,
the picture of the 1891 quarter shows the tops of two numbers, an 8 and a
9, imbedded in the denticles below the 8 and 9 in the date. It makes one
wonder if this die maker "hit for the cycle". Anyone got an 1891 half with
numbers in the denticles? Better take a look!
1891 Dime with an 8 Imbedded in Denticles
30
1891 Quarter with an 8 and a 9 Imbedded in Denticles
THE COIN SOURCE
Let me introduce you to The Coin Source. We are full time collec-
tor/dealers specializing in Liberty Seated coins. Seated halves are
our first love in collecting and we wish we could handle strictly
Seated, but unfortunately limited supplies make this difficult.
We attend 30+ coin shows per year and acquiring nice properly
graded, choice original coins is touch. We seek mostly circulated
grades, G+ thru about uncirculated. We get just as excited about
finding a nice G + /VG better date coin as we do when we find a
higher grade piece.
We make a list of our inventory every 6-8 weeks. If you would like
to receive our next list of coins, just write. Also we would like to
invite you to send us your want list. If you prefer to call and talk
about your interests, feel free to do so. We would love to hear from
you. Thank you for your interest. Sincerely, Ed Schwinge, LSCC
837.
Send inquiries to: THE COIN SOURCE
P.O. Box 4065 GJ
So. Daytona, FL 32021
(904) 788-1348
31
MCI
All Coins as stated
ONE of a Kind
TWENTY CENTS
1875-S XF-40/45 $160
QUARTER DOLLARS
1850-0 F-12 $55
1854 With Arrows VF-25/25 . . 25
HALF DOLLARS
1853 A/R XF-40/45 $150
1858-0 VF-25/30 45
1876 VF-20/20 15
1879 VG10/F15 165
SEATED DOLLARS
1840 F-1 5 baggie $145
1840 AU-50 baggie 380
1844 VF-20/25 230
1845 VG plugged 80
1845 VG-8 150
1845 F-1 2/1 2 200
1846 XF-40/40 240
1848 XF-40/40 rim repair ... 285
1849 VF-25/30 275
1850-0 AG-3 100
1850-0 F15/VF20 375
1855 XF-40/40, small mark
left of date 725
SEATED DOLLARS Continued
1857 F-12/12 $210
1859- S VF-30/35 395
1860 VG-8/8 210
1860 F-12/12 235
1860 VF35/XF45 400
1860 XF-40/40 450
1860- 0 XF-40/45 275
1862 VG plugged 90
1862 AG-3 220
1863 XF-40/40 410
1864 XF45/AU50 450
1868 VF-35/35 260
1868 VF-35 plugged 125
1870- CC VF punch mark 275
1871- CC F-12/12. It took ANACS
to find the repair 1000
1872- S VF-25/30 430
1872- CC VF-30/30, light initials . .1175
1873 F/15/VF25 200
1873- CC XF-40/40 4400
1873-CC VF35/XF40 4200
TRADE DOLLARS
1877-S VF-30/30 $ 85
Terms ■ All coins shipped as soon as possible.
Full 10 day return privilege.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thank you for your previous orders.
MILL COIN INVESTMENTS
P.O. BOX 847
HASTINGS, FLORIDA 32045
Telephone (904) 692-1846
32
VETTEL WINS AHWASH AWARD FOR 1985
Donald J. Vettel won the Kamal M. Ahwash Literary Award for 1985 for his
contribution "Some Thoughts on Liberty Seated Halves: Part II, With Motto
Dates 1866-1891" that appeared in Issue #31 of the Journal. The Ahwash
award is given annually for the best article to appear in the Journal as voted
by the club members. This year's award covered the material in Issues #31
to #33 and the award winner was determined as a result of a vote by club
members during July 1985. A total of 77 ballots were received from club
members who were asked to vote for no more than two articles which they
liked best during the past year. It was decided to allow individuals to vote
for two articles because the large number of choices would likely spread
the votes out among a number of articles. There were 138 votes cast from
the 77 ballots. A complete listing of the results is given below.
RANK ARTICLE and AUTHOR VOTES
1. Some Thoughts on Liberty Seated Halves: Part II, With
Motto Dates 1866-1891 19
by Donald J. Vettel
2. How Many 1871-CC and 1873-CC Dollars Are Extant? 12
by Harry E. Salyards
3. 1869 Seated Dollars 11
by David H. Cohen
4. A Study on the Edge Reeding of Liberty Seated Half Dollars. 11
by David W. Lange
5. Rarity Plateaus on Liberty Seated Quarters Revised 9
by Larry W. Briggs
6. Price Appreciation of Carson City Coinage from 1975
to 1985 9
by Weimar W. White
7. The 1849 V-2 Half Dime 8
by Bill Fivaz
8. LibertySeated Availability, The Emery-Nichols Collection . . 8
by James C. Gray
9. 1873Half Dollars with Small Arrows 7
by Harry X Boosel
10. AStudyof Uncirculated Liberty Seated Quarters 6
by Brian Keefe
11. Is the 1839-0 Shattered Reverse Dime an R-7 Rarity? 4
by Al BIythe
12. 1849/6 Half Dimes 4
by Tom DeLorey
13. Historical Musings 4
by Mel Hatfield
33
RANK
ARTICLE and AUTHOR
VOTES
14. The 1842 Triple Date Half Dollar 3
by Bill Fivaz
15. Fifth Reverse for1870-CC Dollar Discovered 3
by Joseph T. Jaffe
16. The Overworked Dies of the New Orleans Mint 1853-1854 .. . 3
by Harry E. Smith
17. Those Rare 1859 Mint State Half Dollars 3
by Weimar W. White
18. A New Look at the 1844 Half Dime with Recut Date 2
by Al BIythe
19. An 1843 Half with Obverse Die Cracks 2
by Brian Greer
20. The Enumeration of Liberty Seated Coins 2
by Andrew W. Pollock III
21. Comments on Vettel's Half Dollar Rarity Analysis-
Part II 2
by James B. Pryor
22. A New Variety for the 1870-CC Half Dollar Discovered 2
by Duwayne Statzer
23. Additional Comments on Quarter Dollar Rarity Plateaus ... 1
by Roy D. Ash
24. An 1858-0 Shattered Obverse Half Dime 1
by Al BIythe
25. The 1887 Half Dollar 1
by Bill Cregan
26. Three Blundered Die 1858 Halves 1
by Harry E. Smith
With 26 of the 33 eligible articles receiving support for the best article
award, it is evident that there are diverse interests and preferences within
the club. However, even one vote for an article indicates that it was impor-
tant to at least one reader and therefore a worthy contribution to the
available information on Liberty Seated coinage. The officers wish to thank
all those members who took time to contribute articles during the past year
and we hope that we will continue to receive interesting and exciting
material in the years ahead. One change will take place in the voting for
next year. With the increase in the number of articles appearing in the Jour-
nal, the members passed a motion to allow each member to vote for as
many as three articles beginning with the 1986 award. With this procedure
it is expected that an article will have to receive a wider range of support
from the membership in order to win.
34
ON THE COVER
This issue of the Gobrecht Journal presents a picture of the obverse of
the unique 1870-S half dime on the front cover and the reverse of the same
coin is shown on the back cover. This coin was chosen as the cover coin by
club members attending the Annual Meeting in Baltimore last August. The
pictures were supplied courtesy of Q. David Bowers. The coin changed
hands for the first time at public auction on September 9, 1985 at a Bowers
& Merena Auction in New York City. The piece was purchased by Martin B.
Paul, president of the Rarities Group, Inc. of Marlboro, Massachusetts for a
price of $160,000. A 10% buyer's fee made the total price of the coin
$176,000.
It is difficult to predict what will happen to the unique 1870-S half dime
during the next few years. A good guess is that it will change hands a few
times and then be purchased for a prominent collection and probably
disappear from the numismatic market for a number of years.
Except as noted, the following are completely original and problem-free.
HALF DIMES
1850 Choice EF-45 $ 41
1869-S RecutIB EF-40 49
DIMES
1858-S Lt. mks. rev VF-20 $205
1864-S VF-35 50
1872-S Lt. marks VF-20 69
QUARTERS
1839 Nice VF-20 $42
1843-0 VF-30 75
1858-0 Lt. rb. rev EF-45 85
1859 Perfect EF-40 47
1861 VF-20 18
1862 Very pretty AU-50 95
1870 Scarce EF-40 155
HALF DOLLARS
1839 Dr. Dip, now toned . .EF-45 $110
1841-0 VF/F 45
1856-S Slight edge bump . . EF-45 170
1858-S Dip, now toned EF-40 115
1871-CC Just worn Fair 58
WHITMAN BOOKSHELF ALBUMS (VF-New)
5C 1837-1873 $12
50c 1839-1891 (2 parts) 19
$1 1873-1883 12
LIBRARY OF COINS ALBUMS (EF)
10t 1796-1891 (2 parts) 18
25e 1796-1891 (2 parts) 18
All coins may be returned within 14 days of invoice for a full refund. Person-
al checks must clear. Please add $1.50 postage on orders below $100.00
David W. Lange LSCC #488
P.O. Box 3497
San Francisco, CA 94119
(415) 872-0295
(6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time)
35
HALF DIMES
1839 No Drapery, AU $110
1840 With Drapery, G 18
1840-0 With Drapery, VF 95
1848 Medium Date, VF 18
1848 Large Date, Ch. XF 125
1849 9/8, XF/AU 130
1851-0 VF 28
1864- S AU 295
DIMES
1837 No Stars, Good $ 20
1840- 0 No Drapery, VF 32
1841- 0 Choice AU-k 178
1843-0 Nice VF 215
1859- 0 VF/F 18
1873 With Arrows, F 15
1873- S With Arrows, VF 52
1874- S With Arrows, Choice XF 165
TWENTY CENTS
1875 Choice AU+ $385
1875- S ANACS XF-40/40 135
QUARTERS
1842- 0 Large Date, Choice AU $275
1844 MS-63 + Toned 825
1847 XF-40 65
1850-0 VF 85
1851 VF 105
1853 Arrows & Rays, VG 12
1854 With Arrows, VF 21
1857-S Choice XF 405
1860- 0 MS-60+ 660
1864 Choice VF 142
1865- S XF 395
1869 Ex-Proof , Choice AU + 495
1874-S With Arrows, Fine 35
1878-CC Fine 48
1879 Choice AU 315
HALF DOLLARS
1840 Small Letters, AU $125
1843 Choice AU 110
1855-0 With Arrows, VG 22
1855-0 With Arrows, AU 210
HALF DOLLARS
1855- 0 With Arrows, AU, Toned $215
1856- 0 Darkened AU 105
1858 Choice XF 52
1858- 0 Choice AU 105
1859 Choice AU 110
1859- 0 Nice AU 105
1863-S VF 32
1865- S VF 32
1866- S Fine, with Motto 26
1866- S XF, with Motto 46
1867- S XF 46
1867-S Choice XF 48
1871- S Toned Choice AU 105
1873- CC No Arrows, Good 90
1874 With Arrows, Toned XF 155
1876 Brown Toning, Choice AU 100
1876- S Toned, Choice AU 100
1878 Choice AU, Toned 110
1889 Toned Choice AU 560
DOLLARS
1840 VF $275
1844 VF 325
1846-0 XF 480
1846-0 AU 1350
1847 Nice AU 530
1849 VF 295
1850-0 Toned Choice AU 1445
1857 Polished AU, ANACS 545
1863 AU 890
1871 XF 230
1872- S VF 510
1872-S XF 645
TRADE DOLLARS
1873 VF $125
1874 VF 140
1874- S AU 225
1875- CC Toned, Choice AU 395
1876- CC Brilliant AU 455
1877 Dark AU 235
1877- S AU 235
1877- S Choice XF 135
1878- S Choice AU, Toned 245
1878-S MS-60 425
1. 10 Day Return Privilege with Coin in Original Holder,
for any reason.
2. All Orders Postage Free.
3. Personal Checks Must Clear.
4. Member ANA, FUN, MSNS and CSNS
FRANK LEISTER RARE COINS • LSCC#746
P.O. Box 252 • Vero Beach, Florida 32961
(305) 562 1 066 or (305) 562-3977 7 Days & Evenings (9 a.m. • 9 p.m.)
36
AT THE ANA, BALTIMORE 1985
The Annual Meeting of LSCC at the Baltimore convention was attended
by 56 club members who participated in the business session of the
meeting. It was announced that the expansion of the journal to 40 pages
last year was a success and that the club will maintain the current page
size for the coming year. The number of articles being contributed has been
sufficient to support the 40 page format for another year. The club increas-
ed its year ending balance by $427 last year and the members voted to
maintain dues at $10 for the club year beginning on September 1, 1985.
Several club members expressed a desire to have a club membership list
distributed during the coming year. A motion was passed to have each
member check a box on the dues form should he wish his name and
address included in the distributed listing. The information for this listings
will be collected and distributed in January 1986 along with an announce-
ment of the winter issue of the Journal.
Plans for the publication of the Second Collective Volume of the
Gobrecht Journal are progressing satisfactorily. The material from Issues
#19 to #33 has been structured into a 400 page book on Seated coinage.
The book will be hard bound on 7 by 10 pages and have the articles ordered
by denomination and date. The negatives are now being mounted for print-
ing and the book will be available shortly. LSCC club members will be
notified as soon as the volume is available and have an opportunity to pur-
chase copies at a pre-publication discount rate.
On the floor of the convention there was limited activity in the Seated
series. Most collectors felt that overall there was very little choice Seated
material available at the convention. But in spite of these impressions
there were still a number of Seated coins available to the collector who had
the patience to search them out. I saw four 1870-CC half dollars and four
1855-S half dollars on the floor ranging in grades from Good to XF. The half
dollars of the 1880's are considered rare but there seems to be a supply of
pieces from this decade in both circulated and uncirculated grades. In the
quarter series I remember one dealer who had three examples of the 1864-S
quarter in average circulated grades. I remember one average grade
1870-CC quarter and two examples of the 1873-CC quarter. There were a few
quarters in the 1880's but these pieces were much less available than their
counterparts in the half dollar series. There were a few examples of the rare
Carson City dimes from the 1871-CC to the 1874-CC and two 1885-S dimes,
one in a nice XF grade. Several circulated 1864 half dimes were available in
circulated grades as well as two examples of the 1853-0 No Arrows half
dime. Yet despite the presence of some nice Seated coins one had the feel-
ing that the market for Seated coins was slow and that the availability of
pieces in these series would be limited until more interest can be
generated.
The Editor
37
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I wish to add my two cents worth on the 1887 half dollar availability ques-
tion posed by Bill Cregan and Bob O'Brien. In Uncirculated and Proof con-
ditions this date is certainly available as a quick survey of auction
catalogues will attest. Examples of this date appear occasionally in AU
and AU+ conditions, many of these being mishandled Uncs which have
survived in collector's hands over the years. However in the lower grades
this date is seldom encountered. I looked for a low grade specimen for a
fellow collector from 1975 to 1981 and never found a single piece for sale.
Of all the Philadelphia minted halves of the 1880's, I have to believe that the
1887 is the toughest date to locate in the lower grades.
Roy D. Ash
LSCC #159
I didn't start collecting Seated quarters by date and mint until 1982 and
didn't know about all of the rarities in this series until I joined LSCC.
Through mail bid sales and local coin shows I have acquired a number of
Seated quarter varieties at no extra cost for the variety. I have obtained an
1839 Reverse of 1838, 1843-0 Small O with a different reverse than the one
shown in the Collective Volume, 1845/5, 1846/46, 1848/1848 and several dif-
ferent Type I and Type II reverse varieties. But my best find occurred last
year while I attended a local coin show. I was looking for a F-VF 1856-S
quarter but I had no luck. The only 1856-S quarter on the floor was a VG-10.
This was not what I wanted but I decided to take a look at it anyway. I'm
glad I did as this piece turned out to be an 1856-S/S. I believe that the
scarce varieties are still to be found for a fraction of their true value if the
collector is willing to take the time to look. I am still searching for the
1854-0 Huge O, the 1873 Closed 3 and the 1877-S/S. Chances are good that
some day I will find them.
Duwayne
LSCC #758
Recently, to my surprise, at least three Gem Uncirculated 1842-0 half
dimes came on to the market. I personally saw two of the pieces and they
were in all respects original and essentially pristine. The only distracting
feature was that the heads were not fully struck up. Still these were the
nicest early half dimes I had seen in some time. Though this date has not
been offered in UNO for many years, it just goes to show that anything can
happen! For the perfectionist, this date has appeared fully struck as the
Miles-Wolfson coin will attest.
Brian Keefe
LSCC #140
38
My 1873-S dime has a mintmark style that appears to be the same as that
pictured by Kam Ahwash for the 1872-S dime on page 243 of his
Encyclopedia. What confuses me is that in describing the 1873-S dime on
page 254 Kam states under remarks "Mintmark is thin as in 1870, 1871 and
1872". I believe that the 1872-S dime pictured in the encyclopedia does not
have what I would call a thin s. The s mintmark for the 1872-S dime is much
thicker and it has larger serifs. The 1872-S and 1873-S dimes pictured in the
encyclopedia certainly appear to have mintmarks from different punches.
Brian Greer
LSCC #716
It was my recent pleasure to purchase a copy of Weimar White's Liberty
Seated dollar book. I must commend Mr. White for his excellent work. This
book is a much needed reference. The book is generally very accurate in its
conclusions, and I must compliment Mr. White on his efforts.
However I must disagree with Mr. White concerning the number of cir-
culated Seated dollars in existence. I have seen many rolls of circulated
1872 dollars and it is my feeling that almost every old time collector had a
few circulated Seated dollars in his collection. I believe that the circulated
Seated dollars are widely dispersed and the tendency is therefore to
underestimate the number extant. In addition, I had a telephone discussion
with John Ford, Jr. and he indicated that in the early 1960's, a number of cir-
culated bags of silver dollars came into his possession. He told me that in
the circulated bags, approximately 10% were Seated dollars. John also in-
dicated that there were five or six bags of 1859-0 dollars and another five or
six bags of 1860-O dollars in uncirculated condition, all of which surfaced
during those times.
David H. Cohen
LSCC #745
BUY — SELL — TRADE
LIBERTY SEATED DOLLARS
Dennis Garstang
P.O. Box K
Belle, MO 65013
314-364-5095 evenings
ANA — LSCC — MNS
39
TREASURER'S REPORT
1984-1985
Beginning Balance - July 21, 1984 $1887.82
Receipts
New Members 528.00
Renewal Memberships 3539.50
Advertising 645.00
Magazine Sales 23.50
Donations 45.00
Interest Income 199.26
Total Receipts $4980.26
Total Available $6868.08
Disbursements
Printing 2814.30
Postage & Office Expenses 1558.98
Award Plaques 154.34
ANA Membership Dues 25.00
Total Spent $4552.62
Cash Balance July 24, 1985 $2315.46
James R. Skwarek
Sec./Treas. LSCC
40
LiBfRTy Seated Collectors Club
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
STATE
ZIP
COLLECTORD DEALERD
COLLECTOR/DEALERD
YOU MAYD MAY NOTO
SEND MY NAME AND ADDRESS TO OTHER CLUB MEMBERS.
I COLLECT BY DATE SEATED HALF DIMESD DIMESD
QUARTERSD HALF DOLLARSD DOLLARSD ALL SEATEDO
SIGNATURE
DATE
Membership Fee - 11.00 for first year dues and initiation
fee. Fill in the above and mail with $11.00 to:
John Kroon • P.O. Box 1062
Midland, Michigan 48641
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
We ask that you notify us as soon as possible when you nnove or change
your mailing address. It seenns that we always have one or two Journals
returned to us for improper address when a member has moved to a new
location. In such cases we must wait for the member to contact us and
pr'ovide us with the new address. To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving
the Journal and to assist us on keeping our mailing list current, we ask that
you inform us as soon as possible of any change of address.
Reverse of Unique 1870-S Half Dime
Your comments on any of the articles, ads or club policies are invited.
This is your club and the Officers are dedicated to operating it on behalf
of the members. Address any comments to:
John McCloskey
Editor, Gobrecht Journal
5718 King Arthur Drive
Kettering, Ohio 45429
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